The Other Half of the Story

In Love?

What is love?  As a 17-year-old boy, I'm told by society that love is something that I shouldn't think about. No matter how hard I try to distract myself, I always circle back to the same question. What is love? To me, love is everything good. The small things that put a smile on my face. Sammy (Samantha) Michael is one of them. When I walk down the crowded halls, there is only one thing I search for. Sammy. You've never met Sammy. You don't know Sammy. Sammy is perfect. She is everything. She isn't popular. She isn't corrupted by social media. She loves writing and reading. She's kick ass at volleyball. She doesn't see me as Jonah Beckett. I'm pretty popular. I play all the sports. I hang with the big crowd. I was nominated for prom king when I was a freshman. People look at me and they see Jonah. In reality, they don't know Jonah.

Monday comes. I meet up with my buddies before school starts. We usually stop by the bad neighborhood first. That's where Reggie is living for right now. I walk down to Reggie's house with my buddy Sebastian. We end up meeting the rest of the gang there. Sebastian is my best friend. We grew up together. He knows everything about me. He's the only person that knows about my thing for Sam. 

Sebastian is a blue-eyed ginger. He plays hockey and he plays goalie. He's really fucking good at it. He is one of the best guys I know. He's loyal, funny, and is really kindhearted.  He is my best friend because he and I have the same morals. We don't do drugs or drink, we only party on breaks, we get good grades, and we are both genuinely nice people. Then there is Reggie. He's the burnout of the group. He's always on something, he has shit grades, and he isn't that reliable. We love him anyway. He's a troubled kid that needs help to grow. He's like a brother to me and Sebastian. Bruce is new this year. He transferred from a private school. Out of all schools, why would he pick Westler College Prep? I have no clue. Nonetheless, he says he likes it here. He runs track but that's the most I know of him. Then there is Andrew, Nick, and John. They are all triplets. They are the players of the group. They host baller parties at their huge place. We always have a lot of fun when we party with the triplets. It's cool. They are funny and super loyal.

"Hey young Ed Sheeran" says Reggie to Sebastian.

 "Shut up" Sebastian rolls his eyes as he hits the lit cigarette out of Reggie's hand.

 "What the hell Sebastian?" Says Reggie.

 "Uh... Reggie. You know you shouldn't be smoking." I quickly utter.

 Andrew bursts out laughing and says, "Give me that fifty Nick! I told you Jonah would tell him that!"

 "You placed a bet on me?" I say, pissed.

 Nick rolls his eyes, "It's not that serious Jonah." 

I roll my eyes and laugh at them.

 Reggie then yells, "Sebastian, you better pay for that. You know it costs money." Who was I kidding? Reg has a really bad habit and it's costing him lunch money. Maybe I should give him some money.

 Andrew, annoyed, gives Nick fifty bucks.

 Nick exclaims, "I'm rich! I'm rich!" We all laugh at him. 

Suddenly Sebastian's phone started to ring. 

He picks up the phone and the most annoying voice comes out of it, "Yea hi Sebashy, is my Jonah with you? I really need to talk to him, and he isn't picking up the phone."

 Sebastian sighs, "Yea he's here hold up. It's Gwen."

 Gwen is my girlfriend. Gwen is short for Guinevere. I know, I shouldn't like someone when I'm in a relationship, but I cannot help myself. Sam is just too sweet. I really don't want to hurt Gwen, but I just don't love her, and I don't know how to tell her that.

 "Hi Gwenny. I'm with the boys and I can't talk but I'll make it up to you I swear." I say as nice as possible.

 "I need you to explain why you didn't pick up the phone! Tell me now Jonah Bear!" Gwen says. 

"Gwen, I'm serious, I can't talk to you right now." I say as I hang up the phone and hand it back to Sebastian.

 "Dude, you need to break up with Guinevere." Says Sebastian. 

"Fuck. I know." I utter.